FUTURE HUSBAND

CHAPTER 1

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SHE was playing with her ballpoint pen, rolling it between her fingers while staring at the vibrant colors of the beautiful city outside her office. She let out a deep sigh and glanced up at the sky.

"I'm still waiting for you," she whispered, recalling the dream from the previous night about the man she loved. Just then, she heard the door open; it was her secretary entering the room.

"Ma'am, Mr. Lee is already waiting for you at the lobby," her secretary announced.

"Okay. I'll be there in ten minutes," she replied, not turning to face her. After hearing her secretary's footsteps fade away and the door closed, she sighed heavily. She approached her desk to tidy up her things before leaving. She didn't want to leave her office in disarray. After arranging a few items, she picked up her sling bag and black velvet coat, switched off the lights, and exited.

"Huwag ka ng masyadong magpagabi dito, Samara. Baka mapa'no ka pa sa daan." Sabi niya sa sekretarya niyang may ginagawa pa rin.

"Inaayos ko lang po ang mga dapat na ibibigay ko sa inyo bukas para mapermahan niyo na lang." Sabi nito.

"Is it urgent?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, Ma'am," Samara replied, shaking its head. A smile appeared on her lips.

"Well, it's not that urgent, so you have to go home now. Masyadong delikado sa labas kaya bawal sa babae ang nagpapagabi masyado. That's why our office time is from 6 o'clock in the morning to half past 11, and 1 o'clock in the afternoon to 8 o'clock in the evening. Babae ka kaya may pakialam ako sa'yo." Sabi niya rito, ngumiti ito at nilagay sa isang malaking paper bag ang mga papeles at folders 'tsaka sabay na silang bumaba.

Kahit na siya ang boss pareho pa rin naman silang tao kaya dapat lang natratuhin niya ito ng maayos. Isa pa, kargo niya 'rin kapag may nangyaring masama rito dahil sa late na ito umuwi galing trabaho.

When the elevator opens, she sees her long-time boy best friend, Baep Sae Lee. It's her friend from online on her fake account, and it disappears after her 16th birthday.

"Ang aga mo yata, ah?" tukso niya rito, dahil hindi naman ito ganito kaaga kapag sinusundo siya. Kaagad itong lumapit sa kaniya at akmang papakialaman ang buhok niya na alam na niya, kaya pinigilan na niya ito.

"Pumunta ka dito para sunduin ako, hindi para gulohin ang buhok ko." Sabi niya rito. Samara smiled at them.

"Good evening po, Mr. Lee." Bati nito kay Baeps.

"And to you, too." Saka kaagad na inakbayan siya nito na kaagad niya namang inalis.

"Lumayo ka nga sa'king linta ka. Mamalasin ako sa'yo, e." Reklamo niya, napatawa lang ito at naglakad na sila palabas ng building.

"Mauna na po ako, Ma'am Taia. Ingat po kayo sa pag-uwi. Good night, po." Paalam ng kaniyang sekretarya sa kanila. She smiled and waved.

"And to you, too. Text me when you get home." She said.

"I will." Sabat nito at sumakay na sa taxi na pinara.

"Let's have dinner together, first." Sabi ni Baeps, sabay pinagbuksan siya ng pinto ng kotseng dala nito.

"What if I don't want to have dinner with you?" she said with a teasing tune.

"Oh, come on. I've waited for hours, Gbf." Sabi nito na may panghihinayang at pagmamakaawa sa mukha. She smirked and got inside the car.

"Fine. Casual dinner lang, a. Baka isipin mo na date. Kilala kita." Sabi niya rito. A sweet smile appeared on his lips before closing the passenger's door and going inside the car in the driver's seat. They drove their way to her favorite restaurant that's just three blocks away from her apartment. They talked a lot about work, problems, and especially his charms toward women when he was gone for how many years.

Alam naman niya kasing matinik ito sa mga babae. He's handsome, but she never falls for this guy. She treats him as her older brother, that's all.

When she arrived at her apartment after their casual dinner, she threw her sling bag on her bed and exhaustedly dropped her body onto it. She heaves a sigh and spreads her arms.

"Nakakapagod." Mahinang daing niya sa sobrang pagod ng buong araw niya. She got her phone inside her bag when she heard it beeping, and it's her secretary. Napangiti siya na nakauwi na ito pero hindi pa rin siya kontento kaya hiningian niya ng picture.

Her secretary sent a picture of her pajamas and papers for her to sign tomorrow on its small table.

To: Bunso ♡

Good. Huwag na masyadong magpuyat. See you tomorrow. Good night.

When the message was sent, she sat and hugged her cute cinnamon pillow. She's thoughtful when it comes to the person who treasures her and treats her well. Kahit gaano pa ang mga ito kasama minsan ay natuto pa rin niyang pahalagahan ang mga ito. 'Cause she believes that everything happens for a reason, even their bad attitude.

She went to the bathroom to do her night routine. She was not into this kind of stuff when she was a teenager. Being simple is enough, but when she becomes successful, she wants to take good care of herself, especially her appearance. Syimpre, dahil humaharap siya sa iba't ibang tao kaya dapat ay presentable siya sa mga ito. But, she still doesn't wear any makeup because her lips are already pink, and her eyes has brown color on its eye shadow. Maraming makeup artists na ang dumaan sa kaniya na na-admire sa mukha niya lalo na sa mga mata niya.

She had dark brown eyes that held you captive—tantalizing, deep, and full of secrets.

Her eyelashes weren’t long, but thick and perfectly curved, framing almond-shaped eyes that looked straight into your soul.

Chubby, rosy cheeks that made her look younger than she felt.

Kissable lips that trembled when she tried not to cry. And burgundy waves that fell down her back—hair that moved like fire, perfectly matching the curves of her hourglass figure.

I hated my reflection.

These dark brown eyes saw too much. These thick, curved lashes hid tears every night.

These chubby cheeks and kissable lips? Useless.

And this burgundy hair... this hourglass figure my uncle called “a curse magnet.”

But he saw me. The man from my dreams saw all of this.

Habang nakahiga ay hindi niya maiwasang hindi makaramdam ng pagkabagot kaya umupo siya at sumandal sa headboard. Kinuha niya ang phone niya at nakitang may message iyon mula kay Yna, one of her best friends.

The phone rings, and she immediately answers it.

"Yes?"

(Girl, nasaan ka na?) Tanong nito, nagtaka naman siya at tumingin sa palibot niya.

"E 'di na sa apartment ko. Saan pa ba dapat?" Narinig niyang napasinghap ang kausap.

('Andito na ang iba na'ting kaibigan at ikaw na lang ang kulang. Gurl, nakalimutan mo talaga?) Sabi nito na ikinagulat niya, palihim siyang napamura at tiningnan ang kalendaryo ng phone niya. It's February 5.

How could I forget that?!

"Sorry. Nakalimutan ko. Hindi ko namalayan. I'll be there." Habang nagmamadaling bumaba ng kama at naghahanap ng damit na masusuot sa closet niya.

(No gift, no entry. Ingat.) Sabi nito at binaba na ang tawag, kaagad siyang nakahanap ng black croptop sweat shirt at brown na high waisted trouser, black stiletto and a Chanel leather belt. Dali-dali siyang nagbihis, nag-ayos at hindi na nag-abala na mag makeup dahil hindi naman siya mahilig do'n. Pinatay niya ang switch ng bahay bago sumakay sa SUV na kotse niya patungo sa subdivision na kinaroroonan ng kaibigan.

As she arrived at the subdivision, she parked her car outside of Rodriguez's House and stepped out with a paper bag on her right hand. She looked at the house and heaved a sigh before entering the house.

"Invitation, Ma'am?"

Itinaas niya ang dalang paper bag para sa birthday party dahil alam niyang iyon ang invitation na pinapahiwatig nito.

"You may enter now, ma'am. Enjoy your night." Sabi nito at pumasok na siya. Lot of visitors were already there and a loud music was playing. Napabuntong-hininga siya dahil kahit isa siyang business woman hindi talaga siya sanay sa mga gatherings na katulad nito, lalo na kung maraming tao ang imbitado.

There's a small stage decorated with pink and white balloons, pink curtains, and dried flowers with 'Happy Birthday Alaizah Lorraine' written on it. She smiled, and she found it cute and pretty. Napatingin siya sa kaliwang bahagi at nando'n ang buffet table na puro mga finger foods lang at may spaghetti and cakes din for kids.

"TITA!" Sigaw ng isang tinig na kaagad na nagpangiti sa kaniya. She saw her beautiful niece, though they're not blood related, she carried her in her arms and kissed its forehead.

"Happy birthday, Baby Lori. Are you happy?" she asked; the kid smiled at her sweetly and nodded.

"I'm happy that all my Tita Ninangs and Tito Ninongs are here. Thank you for coming, Tita." Sabi nito sa kaniya. She rubbed her nose to Baby Lori's nose, making the kid giggle. Their moment was ruined when a woman wearing a scarlet dress suddenly appeared beside them.

"Sis, akala ko hindi ka makakapunta!" Masiglang sabi nito at kaagad niyang binaba si Lori 'tsaka lumapit rito dahil sa gulat at tuwa.

"SIS!" she shouted with glee and hugged her tight, and they went to their seats after. All of her friends were there, and they were happy to see her, too.

"What's up?" Sabi ni Adrienne sa kaniya. She smiled before answering it.

"Good. I'm living on my own. You?"

"You mean LIVING ALONE far away from us." Sabi ni Astrid, napayuko siya at bumuntong-hininga na lang.

"Kailan ka ba babalik sa village?" Tanong ni Kyomi sa kaniya.

"Soon." Sabat niya lang.

I just love to be alone, for now.

She was looking at the surroundings while her friends were busy with their businesses. Napansin niyang wala pa ang isa niyang kaibigan. Anelle. Her crazy elementary best friend.

Nasaan na naman kaya ang babaeng iyon?

She took a sip of her wine, and all her friends were shocked.

"What?" she asked with her stoic expression.

"Since, when did you learn to drink?" Miyoki asked her with their unbelievably face at her.

"Pft. Since I was born." Pilosopong sagot niya at inubos na ang natirang wine sa baso niya.

"Don't give me that tune, Taia Aliez Aldore. So?"

"Argh. Since I started building my own business? It's normal. It's a lady's drink, after all. Yna knew that I never drink hard drinks." She answered and got another glass of wine when a waiter passed by.

"Thank you." Sabi niya at nginitian ito. Nilagok niya ito kaagad.

"Yeah, right. Hindi ka naman ganiyan dati. Oh, well. People change." Sabi nalang ni Astrid. She just smiled at them.

"Stop faking your smile. Baka lunurin kita sa dagat." Sabi ni Blythe.

"I hate you, Mars." Nakangiting sabi niya lang.

"I hate you most." Sabi nito at busy na sila sa kanilang mga chika na hindi niya pinapakinggan.

I admitted that I could be a 'Marites' if I wanted to.

Nagpaalam siya sa kanila na magbabanyo muna dahil nakaramdam siya na parang babaliktad na ang sikmura niya.

Shit! I hate throwing up after drinking alcohol.

She knew that it was not good for her health, but she just wanna try to be someone else. She knew that she didn't need to be someone else who could drink alcohol, but—DAMN! It hurts her every time being called 'KILL JOY'.

After cleaning herself up, she went out of the restroom to go back to her friends. Inaayos niya ang sariling damit nang may bumangga sa kaniya. She was not supposed to slam on the floor, but because she was tipsy-she lost her balance.Napapikit siya ng mariin sabay mura ng mahina.

Who the f*ck bumped me?!

"Are you okay, Miss?"

A man's voice that made her eyes open. Her heart started pounding even though she hadn't glanced at him. She just stared at the man's Italian shoes while listening to her heart pounding so fast and loud.

T-That v-voice.

The man kneeled on his left leg and leveled himself with her. She gasped and held her breath without looking at him.

"Hold my hand. Let me help—"

"No. I'm f-fine." She quickly stands up and fixes herself while avoiding the man's gaze.

"Sorry for bumping you. I didn't see you coming. What's your name?"

The man keeps moving, wanting to meet her gaze, so she can look at him, but she's avoiding him every time the man does that. She felt uncomfortable and going insane now.

"It's none of your business." Tanging naisip na isabat niya at nilagpasan ito. She went back to her seat and was about to sit when she heard Anelle's voice, calling the name of the guy who bumped her.

Nananadya ba siya? Argh. Hindi man lang ako ini-inform ng palaka kong kaibigan.

Before the man could come near to their table, she stood up, which startled them.

"Yna, aalis na ako. Maaga pa ako bukas. Paki goodnight and happy birthday ulit ako kay Baby Lori. Ciao!" she immediately said and got her bag.

"Pero, Taia—" before they could finish to talk, she immediately left the place. Nagmaneho siya kaagad pagkasakay niya ng sasakyan niya.

"It can't be." She whispered while mesmerizing the things that just happened at Yna's house. Dahil sa kakaisip niya muntik pa siyang madisgrasya. Mabuti at naihinto niya kaagad ang kotse niya.

"F*ck! Hindi ko man lang napansin na nag-red light na pala. Stupid, Taia." Sabi niya at kinaltukan ang ulo niya. When she arrived at her apartment, she locked the door and went to her room. Pabagsak siyang nahiga at binalot ang sarili sa kumot.

"It can't be." She muttered and closed her eyes.

It can't be him. You did the right thing, Taia. Tama lang ang sinagot mo sa kaniya. It's better for him to not know who you are. It's better for YOU...to not be hurt, again.

She didn't know that she dozed to sleep while muttering the words.

It can't be him.

LadyEmophilia20